Tech

Creepy robot octopus moves by pumping chemicals through its body

Researchers at Harvard have come up with an innovation that may eventually give us the terrifying organic-style automatons we've always feared: a robotic octopus.

Nicknamed the Octobot, the mechanism was created using a combination of 3D printing, molding and soft lithography. To make the Octobot move autonomously, the developers used a microfluidic logic circuit, which directs the flow of its chemical reaction of hydrogen peroxide that's converted into gas when it comes in contact with its platinum components.

According the researchers, the robot has no rigid parts, which means that it would essentially feel like an organic construct to the touch. There are no plans to release the robot commercially, but the researchers hope the innovation might one day be used for rescue efforts that require more malleable robotic devices.

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